Miami at Oklahoma City
Time: 8 PM ET, Feb 20, 2014
TV: TNT
Spread: OKC -2.5
Total: 207
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Miami Heat are 38-14 and trail the Indiana Pacers by two games for the best record in the East. The Heat will square off against the Western Conference’s best team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in a game NBA oddsmakers are favoring the Thunder by 2.5-points.
Miami won 117-106 over Dallas on Tues night behind 42 points and nine rebounds from LeBron James. It was the 50th 40 point game of his career, and the reigning MVP is averaging 26.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game this season. The Heat are trying to rest Dwyane Wade to have him healthy for the playoffs, but he hasn’t really been full-speed all year.
Wade is averaging 18.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game this season. Wade scored 13 points in 34 minutes in the win over Dallas, and Chris Bosh also contributed 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Chris Andersen had a big game off the bench, hitting 7-of-9 from the floor for 18 points. The Heat have the depth to compete with Indiana, but the Pacers match up well with the Heat and it will be another good series for Eastern Conference supremacy.
Oklahoma City has been without starting point guard Russell Westbrook, but Kevin Durant has taken the opportunity to shine brighter than ever. Durant is possibly the MVP frontrunner with averages of 31.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
Reggie Jackson has filled in admirably for Westbrook and has started 30 games now this season. Jackson is averaging 13.6 points and 4.2 assists per game in 28 minutes a night. Serge Ibaka is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, an the forward is averaging 2.45 blocks per night.
MIA Trends: 3-0-1 ATS in last 4 vs teams with winning SU records; 3-0-1 ATS in last 4 vs teams with home winning percentages greater than .600; 3-0-1 ATS in last 4 vs teams with winning home records.
OKC Trends: 5-0 ATS in lasts 5 games vs teams with winning percentage above .600; 8-1 ATS in last 9 when opponent allows 100 points or more in previous game; 8-1 ATS in last 9 vs teams with winning SU records.
Head-to-head: Heat 6-1 ATS in last 7 meetings; OVER 9-2-1 in last 12 meetings in Oklahoma City; OVER 4-1 in last 5 meetings.
